“We don't know whether race code exists”
The race code procedure that had been used for keeping the record of non-Muslim citizens was removed from the system of General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs upon the order of Minister of Interior Efkan Ala. CHP MP Selina Doğan tabled a question about this procedure, but hasn't received a response. After that, she applied to General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs. She asked how many non-Muslims there are in Turkey.
It applies to every one
Minister Efkan Ala, in his respons to the parliamentary questions concerning the race code, stated that they don't have any specific way of coding, expect the one that applies to all the citizens of Turkey. He added that those codes don't reveal the religious or ethnic identity of the citizens. Given this response, Selina Doğan wrote in her letter to General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs: “According to Efkan Ala's response, there is race code procedure. Knowing population and demographic structure is essential for carrying out and planning of public services. Minority groups provide the public services (education, worship, healthcare) mostly from their foundations. Thus, knowing the number of people is a necessity for planning such services. The lack of information also causes problems in electing the religious leaders. Given these facts, how many Armenian, Jewish and Greek citizens of Turkey are there?”
“It impossible to answer that question”
Selina Doğan demanded this information, before the race code procedure was removed from the system. In their response to Selina Doğan, the Directorate stated that they cannot give any answer to that question, since there is no procedure like race code.
“What matters is the intention”
Speaking to Agos about this issue, Selina Doğan said: “What matters is intention and discourse. We don't know whether such a procedure exists. Either the Ministry gives us the half-truth or the Directorate is trying to hide the truth. We will never know for sure.”
